Alabama, Pennsylvania See Marijuana Legalization Bills

And then there were eight. That is, as marijuana legalization bills have been formally introduced this month in Alabama and Pennsylvania, the number of states to see such bills this year is up to eight. The others are Hawaii (already killed), Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Oregon.

In Alabama, Rep. Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham) introduced House Bill 550, the Alabama Cannabis and Hemp Reform Act. It would allow adults 21 and over to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and grow up to 12 plants in a secured space. Adults could share, but not sell, marijuana to other adults.

The bill is headed for the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.

In Pennsylvania, Sen. Daylin Leach (D-17) introduced Senate Bill 528, the Regulate Marijuana Act. It would allow adults 21 and over to grow up to six plants and possess the resulting harvest. It would also allow adults to transfer up to an ounce to other adults. And it would direct the state to come up with a system to regulate and tax marijuana commerce.

As the demographic skews younger and younger, each state will invariably head down the road toward legalization. Current polls are finding that the majority of American and Canadian populations are in favour of legalization and the belief that the so-called war on Drugs is an abject failure with a hefty price-tag.

Even the drug czars of the past are coming down on the side of legalization. This I believe is inevitable. We should see a legal marijuana within the next 5-10 years.